NYC Case Shows Importance Of Ebola Education

By KYW medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – One of the biggest weapons we have in the battle against Ebola is knowledge and education. Both of them were displayed in the case of the New York City physician who turned himself in and is now at Bellevue Hospital in isolation.

The important point is, the minute he had symptoms — a temperature — he called and was transported in a proper manner not to expose other people to Bellevue. Bellevue was prepared and the workers there are also prepared with the proper gear to make they are not going to have unnecessary exposure.

This shows just how far we’ve come in a short time, as far as protecting not only the community, but hospital workers from Ebola.

We have a good history of this, we know he had three close contacts. Those close contacts are also being monitored. One is quarantined at a hospital. The other two are quarantined at home.

This is essentially the way we need to approach all of these Ebola cases when they do arise.